Man Shot By Stray Bullet On July 4 Is In Fair Condition

Sopheap Kim and her husband Brandon Yam with three of their children - Randy, Kelli and Christian.

Credit Courtesy of Chanda Yam Wilson

The family of Brandon Yam, the man who was shot in the head by a stray bullet on the Fourth of July, says he may be released from the hospital this week.

Family members are asking for any information that will help them identify the kind of bullet that struck him.

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Sopheap Kim was standing next to her husband, Brandon Yam, inside a tent on the Fourth of July. They were selling snacks when a bullet hit the left side of his head.

"I saw him fell on the ground and the blood came out from top head – I just don’t know where – but on the head," Kim says. "Oh I thought he got shot, I don't know where he got shot for: a firework or something else. And he passed out. I don’t know what to do, I was like I got to help him."

She didn't know how to perform CPR, but she blew into his mouth. A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and asked for help. He was transported to the Carolinas Medical Center from the Cambodian Buddhist temple in North Charlotte.

Yam is currently in fair condition. His family says his memory is coming back, but he can't move his legs except for being able to wiggle his toes on his right leg. And while he can move his arms, he can't control them.

But his family is grateful for the progress he's made. On Friday, he couldn't remember that he had four children. On Monday, he asked about his youngest – a seven month old boy.

"At least he can talk, you know," Kim says. "Even if he can not do anything I just happy with that."

A CMPD spokesperson told The Charlotte Observer that investigators believe the shots were from celebratory Fourth of July gunfire.

For now, the family says doctors will leave the bullet alone because they believe it's not safe to remove.